AQUA

It is with a heavy heart that I report that our cat, Sunny, who recently was involved in some other emotional turmoil, passed away last night.

She has been a very overweight cat for quite some time. Recently, she seemed to virtually stop eating, and stayed up in my daughter’s room for long periods. We would bring her down to eat, but it wasn’t enough. When overweight cats stop eating rather suddenly, it can cause Hepatic Lipidosis, a buildup of fats in the liver. We didn’t know about the risk of this disease, and were surprised when Madison discovered that Sunny was very lethargic, and ‘floppy.’ She was alive and breathing, but had very little muscle action and a general mottled look.

We took her to the emergency room for pets. She had a very low temperature, so they warmed her up and began to give her I.V. fluids to try and bring about some balance. The doctor gave her about a 50% chance, based on how well she responded to treatment.

Unfortunately, she did not respond well, and died at about 5:30 this morning. She went quickly, and there is some solace in knowing her fate — many cats just disappear at the end. It’s a comfort to know absolutely.

As often happens during these times — with any loss of a living being you care for — I’m reminded to appreciate things while there is still time.

Spend some special time with your loved ones (human or animal) today, and remind them how much they mean to you. You might not have the chance tomorrow.